Award-winning Horsforth: Town of Sanctuary!

Horsforth Town of Sanctuary has received the Jo Cox Award at Leeds Council’s Compassionate City Awards ceremony.

The Award was given in recognition of the diverse group raising awareness in the community and offering support to people seeking asylum – and the City of Sanctuary Maternity Group chaired by parishioner Rose McCarthy, separately received a Highly Commended Award for its work.

As Christians, Our Lord reminds us that in welcoming the stranger as an act of mercy, we are welcoming Him. Horsforth Town of Sanctuary, is part of the UK Cities of Sanctuary project providing support, dignity and welcome to refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Initially begun in partnership with Our Lady of Kirkstall Parish, it is now part of the Horsforth Chaplaincy Project and supports residents of a local hotel, families from Ukraine being hosted in Horsforth and people seeking asylum across the Leeds area.

Support includes weekly English conversation classes, advocacy and help in accessing services around Leeds; monthly clothing distribution; assistance with travel around Leeds; trips out to the Dales, Yorkshire Cricket, central Leeds and local walks.

The men give back to the community as much as they receive. There have been monthly Community Events where hotel residents have cooked traditional dishes from their home countries for between 30 and 60 people.  Some of the men are working in a voluntary capacity with homeless charities and Oxfam as well as local ‘Churches Together’ projects.

Receiving the Jo Cox Award is a wonderful accolade in recognition of all the volunteers who have been involved with Horsforth Town of Sanctuary, as well as many of the asylum seekers themselves, working hard alongside the volunteers to raise awareness in schools and in the community, helping with conservation projects and also decorating and building shelving units for Parish Hall at Holy Name.

Horsforth Town of Sanctuary Steering Group member is Ian Kemp who lives in the parish. Ian said:

‘We would like to pass on our thanks for the support from the parish and especially the Parish Secretaries for helping with the administration and finances that have allowed the project to run so smoothly. Being able to use the Diocese structure to apply for the grant, with all the supporting documentation provided, has allowed us to secure the funding required to really make a step change in the service delivery we have been able undertake.’

We wish the Horsforth Chaplaincy Project every success as the Town of Sanctuary goes from strength to strength, bolstered by this prestigious award!